Stress Reduction for ADD
| August 9, 2010 | Posted by Brenda under Life Skills, School |
Note: I have been very fortunate lately to receive offers from some very generous people to write a guest post for ADD Student and share their experiences. This is the first of many.
Stress-Reduction Tips for College Students with ADD
Dealing with Attention Deficit Disorder can be very difficult as a child or adolescent. With hormones raging and the desire to socialize trumping the ability to focus on education, many teens rely on the help of their parents (and often medication) to maintain grades and continue on a productive path.
However, the transition to college life can pose an even bigger problem for students trying to cope with ADD. Without Mom around to cook and keep you on schedule with sleep, studying, and activities, or Dad to help with homework, you may find yourself back-sliding to the point that your grades and health begin to suffer.
Not only that, but the stresses associated with moving away from family and friends, in addition to being self-reliant for the first time, are multiplied by the challenges inherent in the disorder.
Luckily, there are several stress-reducing solutions for the college student afflicted with ADD.
1. Get a planner. If you find that you have trouble keeping track of class times and what assignments are due on which days, you should consider a planner to help you out. If reminders are what you need, look into one of the many apps for your computer or phone (some can interact with both devices) that will allow you to set tasks and milestones, and will remind you when certain items are coming due.
2. Stick to your schedule. A planner does you no good if you don’t use it, so be diligent about entering information and checking back regularly instead of letting things slide.
3. Study first, socialize later. This sounds like common sense, but if you’re easily distracted from activities that you view as “work”, you may need to repeat this mantra in order to stay on top of your obligations.
4. Take breaks. Too much work will quickly ratchet up your stress level, so make sure you schedule in time for breaks to have a little fun and reset your brain.
5. Utilize campus services. Most college campuses offer various services for students with a variety of disabilities (from note-takers to additional time to complete assignments and exams), but you generally have to register in order to be eligible. So find out what services are provided and the requirements to take advantage of them.
6. Eat properly. A poor diet and irregular meals can put added stress on your body and your mind, leading to a host of problems such as fatigue, anxiety, dehydration, headaches, and malnutrition, just to name a few. So factor mealtimes into your schedule in order to keep your energy and spirits high.
7. Sleep and exercise regularly. A good diet will only take you so far if you are not sleeping or engaging in frequent physical activity. Both of these will improve alertness and brain function as well as helping to relax you.
8. Call home. If you find that despite your best efforts you are having a tough time keeping up with your studies, give you parents a call. They can no doubt offer you some good advice and give you a morale boost that will get you back on track.
Kyle Simpson writes for Medical Coding where you can find information on a career in medical billing and coding industry.
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